Jamaica, Crown Colony, 1/2 Penny – 1952

Description

In 1866, after starting some social reforms to pacify the black majority of the colony (very marginalized), Jamaica becomes a colony of the crown. The situation at this time remained of majority unemployment and extensive poverty. Political and civil movements began for the rights of blacks, including the Rastafari religion, which appeared in the 30s combining Christianity with a pan-African theology, strongly inspired by the Ethiopia emperor, Haile Selassie. The crisis of 29 hit Jamaica, starting riots that would culminate in a great strike in 1938. In response, the British would create a parliament with universal suffrage, and the Jamaican bipartisan system would be created. From then on, the colony began to enjoy greater quotas of self -government. In 1958, the colony joined the Federation of Western Indies, but a referendum approved the departure of it, achieving independence on August 6, 1962. Since 1839, it was fixed that the Jamaica currency was the same as the United Kingdom. However, while silver coins were well accepted by the entire population, most blacks on the island rejected copper or bronze pieces. That is why the minting in Jamaica have the peculiarity of using the cuproniquel instead of copper or bronze for the lowest values, because this metal was accepted.